Israeli settlers beat Washington Post photographer during West Bank olive harvest attacks
Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians picking olives in the West Bank on Friday, NPR and the BBC reported. They also beat Heidi Levine, who takes photos for The Washington Post. Medics said about 20 people were hurt, and Israel's army said it would look into the attack on her.
Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians picking olives in the occupied West Bank on Friday, injuring several people, including Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, NPR, the BBC and The Guardian reported. In the village of Abu Falah near Ramallah, at least 80 settlers, some with guns or clubs, used slingshots to hurl rocks at farmers, The Guardian reported. A BBC team at the scene saw settlers set fire to olive trees.
Levine said she was pushed down and kicked. "I was attacked, pushed to the ground," she said, according to NPR. She said her helmet and flak jacket protected her, the BBC reported. Settlers took her passport, phone, wallet and equipment, The Guardian reported. The Post said she was wearing clear press markings. "We are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities," Executive Editor Matt Murray said, NPR reported.
The Israel Defense Forces said troops were sent to the area "following a report of a violent confrontation" and that "all circumstances" would be examined, the BBC reported. Israeli police said they would investigate and "bring those involved to justice," NPR reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the facts "remain unclear and are under investigation," NPR reported. The Guardian reported that the office blamed "200 Arabs and far-left activists" who it said confronted Israeli youths, while condemning "violence against anyone." The U.S. State Department said it was aware of the reports and condemned "criminal violence by any party in the West Bank," NPR reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society counted two dozen settler attacks on olive harvesters Friday, with 20 people injured, NPR reported. The United Nations says the past two weeks have seen more settler attacks than the whole harvest season last year, the BBC reported. The Israeli rights group Yesh Din has counted at least 170 settler attacks since Sept. 27, The Guardian reported.
What we know: Settlers beat Levine and attacked olive harvesters Friday, and the Israeli military and police say they will look into it.
What we don't: Whether anyone will be arrested or charged.
Where outlets agree NPR and the BBC both report that masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive harvesters on Friday and beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.